It has been a month since the last, and much has happened in the rowing life.
SPRING CAMP
Camp Bob Cooper, South Carolina, USA
Eat. Sleep. Row. Asshole.
Those were the 4 main things the crew did this year at camp, spring training. Eat a ton. Sleep a bit here and there. Row 2 times a day, 1 1/2 hour per session. And 'Asshole' the card game on our free time (Varsity and Novice men bonding time).
From my personal perspective, spring training was a great success. As should be for any effective rowing camp, lodges were right next to the water, food was right next to the water, and the water was relatively "rowable". Camp setting, along with close proximity, allowed for inter-squad bonding. During much of the pre-camp season at the University, Varsity and Novice squads would not normally mingle much. Camp changes things: for the better. Some friends left as better friends, some left as better acquaintances/friends, and a pair even left as a couple. In crew (and for just about anything else for that matter), better relationships between people are the most important.
From the rowing perspective, 3 hours of rowing (in both calm and chaotic conditions) per day for a week does things to you. It makes you stronger. It makes you smoother. It makes you a better rower. As part of the Varsity men's squad, I know there will little lineup experimenting, but that just meant more time to practice with relatively set lineups. For that one week, each person was unspokenly "assigned" a role in the boat, with the duty to perfect that role.
Rowing with the women
Twice I've rowed in the open women's 8+. They do not realize it but their technique and togetherness is usually quite amazing. The women are mostly weaker, but their technique makes up for that lacking ten times over. The men are strong, but technically inferior. I believe it may have to do with the masculine, ultra-competitive mentality. Each guy thinking for himself, each guy thinking he can out pull everyone else. As a researcher from U. of Cambridge once said, "to be successful, rowers must develop sort of a...schizophrenic-type mindset." Rowers much think they can out-power anyone else, but at the very same time, must also think they can be anyone else's perfect pair. Hence the saying goes: "Pick your best 8, not your 8 best."
Winter Training: Jan 4, 2010 - Mar 19, 2010.
Two and a half months apparently, in my case, equates to 3.5 seconds. Today marks my end to winter training. What better way to end it all than with a 2k test. THE 2K TEST in my mind.
Since the beginning of training, my mind was set on a 7:20.0 flat minimum. All the nights, weekends, the 150k+ erggings: for that 1:50.0 split.
I started strong, feeling perfectly comfortable: going at 1:48-1:51 for the first 1000. For the next 400m or so, I kept fairly steady my 1:50 pace. Then, my foolish "rest" came about for the next 10 strokes, 1:52-1:53. In the end, I finished at 7:20.5 (1:50.1, 30spm).
Uncontrollably, that was when absolute rage hit me. I was literally half a second from my goal. I knew that those 10 rest strokes cost me my race. I guess it's true, the game of inches (in this case, probably centimeters).
The night before, I was reading quotes from the Oxford-Cambridge crews of the 2009 boatrace. The one that really struck me was from an Oxford rower. Rowing to finish first, even if that means a trip to the ambulance afterward. I wanted that mindset. This morning, I lacked that. I was able to limp about, feel angry, throw things: that is how I know my mind has not fully matured.
I will not be visiting the erg room as frequently anymore. I came a hair-close to what I wanted but not close enough. I can not ignore the fact that I demolished my previous 2k PR of 7:24 but I don't fear making goals that are too high, I fear making goals that are too low. Now that rowing season is just around the corner and rowing camp at Camp Bob is coming up, I should have a bit of wiggle room left for possible self-redemption.
Two and a half months apparently, in my case, equates to 3.5 seconds. Today marks my end to winter training. What better way to end it all than with a 2k test. THE 2K TEST in my mind.
Since the beginning of training, my mind was set on a 7:20.0 flat minimum. All the nights, weekends, the 150k+ erggings: for that 1:50.0 split.
I started strong, feeling perfectly comfortable: going at 1:48-1:51 for the first 1000. For the next 400m or so, I kept fairly steady my 1:50 pace. Then, my foolish "rest" came about for the next 10 strokes, 1:52-1:53. In the end, I finished at 7:20.5 (1:50.1, 30spm).
Uncontrollably, that was when absolute rage hit me. I was literally half a second from my goal. I knew that those 10 rest strokes cost me my race. I guess it's true, the game of inches (in this case, probably centimeters).
The night before, I was reading quotes from the Oxford-Cambridge crews of the 2009 boatrace. The one that really struck me was from an Oxford rower. Rowing to finish first, even if that means a trip to the ambulance afterward. I wanted that mindset. This morning, I lacked that. I was able to limp about, feel angry, throw things: that is how I know my mind has not fully matured.
I will not be visiting the erg room as frequently anymore. I came a hair-close to what I wanted but not close enough. I can not ignore the fact that I demolished my previous 2k PR of 7:24 but I don't fear making goals that are too high, I fear making goals that are too low. Now that rowing season is just around the corner and rowing camp at Camp Bob is coming up, I should have a bit of wiggle room left for possible self-redemption.
Two days left before the crew's annual make-shift triathlon. The regiment goes:
- 7500m erg
- ~4 miles running
- 10 sets of 15-floor stairs (called "towers")
This is one of the crew's traditions. The winner of each squad earns a hammer, spray-painted over with gold colored spray paint; the symbol of hard-work and pure power/skill. There's no way in hell I'm winning this year, but I'll still put my best effort. As I've made clear over and over, my ultimate goal by the end of this season is to maximize my rowing potential before I'm done. There will not be "I should've done this, I should've tried harder, etc." No bullshit.
One of the hardest things I've been training my mind to do is absolute self-discipline. I think my solo winter training regiment is working very well in that respect. My 2k time has been a consistent sub-7:30, exactly where I want to be. At the same time, I haven't gained an ounce of weight (that fight's getting pretty depressing). So I plan to stick to as much of the plan as I can until we hit Spring Training, then we'll see.
For now, the upcoming triathlon is just a contest: can I overcome myself.
- 7500m erg
- ~4 miles running
- 10 sets of 15-floor stairs (called "towers")
This is one of the crew's traditions. The winner of each squad earns a hammer, spray-painted over with gold colored spray paint; the symbol of hard-work and pure power/skill. There's no way in hell I'm winning this year, but I'll still put my best effort. As I've made clear over and over, my ultimate goal by the end of this season is to maximize my rowing potential before I'm done. There will not be "I should've done this, I should've tried harder, etc." No bullshit.
One of the hardest things I've been training my mind to do is absolute self-discipline. I think my solo winter training regiment is working very well in that respect. My 2k time has been a consistent sub-7:30, exactly where I want to be. At the same time, I haven't gained an ounce of weight (that fight's getting pretty depressing). So I plan to stick to as much of the plan as I can until we hit Spring Training, then we'll see.
For now, the upcoming triathlon is just a contest: can I overcome myself.
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